Omkarishwar, India – Page 1

(Omkarishwar)

This is the island of Omkarishwar as seen from the Madya Pardesh Tourist Hotel. The next picture is a closer view of the bridge on the right. (3 Mar 2015)Back to top

This walk bridge connects the mainland to the island of Omkarishwar. No cars are allowed on the island; and only a few motor scooters are there. If you want a quiet place to stay away from the horns of Indian cars, trucks, rickshaws, and motorcycles and scooters, Omkarishwar in one of those places.(2 Mar 2015)Back to top

As I looked up river from the bridge in the last photo, the imposing Narmada River dam dominated the view of Omkarishwar. The suspension bridge is another walk bridge. (1 Mar 2015)Back to top

Small ferry boats and pilgrim boats dominate the Narmada River in Omkarishwar. The river is the site of an important pilgrimage in India. People walk around its entire perimeter taking upwards of three years to do it. Omkarishwar Island sits in the middle of the river here. (2 Mar 2015)Back to top

I took these pictures of Omkarishwar day and night from about the same place. Move the cursor over the day picture to see the night picture and off the picture to see the day picture. (10-11 Mar 2015)Back to top

Omkarishwar exists because of the Holy Narmada River. It is a holy island laying midway on the course of the Narmada. Pilgrims have stopped here for centuries as they have walked the banks of the Narmada. Here Petra stands on the island on the banks of the river. The town part of the island is to her front left. (3 Mar 2015)Back to top

Petra sits reading near our room in Sri Mata Anandamayi Ashram on Omkarishwar Island. We stayed there five days. (8 Mar 2015)Back to top

Swami Gurusharananda, on the right, was the director of the Sri Mata Anandamayi Ashram. Swami Hasmukh, “Happy Smile,” on the left, also lived in the ashram. I use the past tense because this ashram was dissolved when we left. Nothing to do with us, but their central authority did not want them to run it any more. They moved to a place down river in Barlay, near Marheshwar to continue their work under a new name, Ma Sharnam. (7 Mar 2015)Back to top

There were so many Bougainvillea at the ashram that their pedals covered the ground like snow. At a time that the snow was falling in Europe and Illinois and making the ground white, the Bougainvillea was making our ground pink and purple. (8 Mar 2015)Back to top

Another Omkariahwar ashram. They said that the swami here was more than 150 years old but now not so healthy. (12 Mar 2015)Back to top

Omkarishwar has a parikrama (a walk-around path) just like the Narmada River. We walked its seven kilometers (4.3 miles) several times during our 18 days in Omkarishwar. It took us through ruins of a 13th century Omkarishwar that was more fortified and built-up than the current version. Here Petra stands in front of one of the doorways on the perimeter wall of that earlier city. (8 Mar 2015)Back to top

The somewhat reconstructed ruins of an ancient Omkarishwar temple on top of the island. (8 Mar 2015)Back to top

One of the many defaced elephants that surround the base of this temple. This one stands on a man. (11 Mar 2015)Back to top

Two more elephants on the perimeter wall. These were not so defaced as others. (11 Mar 2015)Back to top

These two panels of almost identical, two-meter high carvings mirrored each other on either side of a window in this temple. (11 Mar 2015)Back to top

Omkarishwar had leftovers of past glory all over the top of the island. These temple or building facings were arrayed on the top of a junkish pile of stones. (13 Mar 2015)Back to top